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The differences between accounting assistants and accounting analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an accounting assistant, becoming an accounting analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an accounting analyst has an average salary of $58,399, which is higher than the $39,569 average annual salary of an accounting assistant.
The top three skills for an accounting assistant include data entry, customer service and reconciliations. The most important skills for an accounting analyst are reconciliations, customer service, and account reconciliations.
| Accounting Assistant | Accounting Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $39,569 | $58,399 |
| Hourly rate | $19.02 | $28.08 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 63,945 | 81,097 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 51 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
An accounting assistant is responsible for supporting the daily operations of the business' accounting department, from reviewing financial transactions to the submission of financial reports. Accounting assistants' duties include performing data entry and clerical tasks, maintaining a safe record of account statements, updating and analyzing transactions, verifying the accuracy of financial records, and managing customers and vendors' inquiries as immediate as possible. An accounting assistant must have a broad knowledge of the accounting principles and processes, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills, especially on meeting strict deadlines and doing complex tasks as needed.
An accounting analyst is responsible for supporting the accounting operations of an organization, analyzing financial transactions and financial statements, and resolving account discrepancies. Accounting analysts interpret financial data by consolidating account transactions, performing account reconciliation, and managing account receivables. They also assist in preparing and releasing invoices, issuing billing statements, and creating comprehensive financial reports on the company's budget and expenses. An accounting analyst must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles and disciplines, as well as extensive analytical and communication skills to perform duties and meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
Accounting assistants and accounting analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Accounting Assistant | Accounting Analyst | |
| Average salary | $39,569 | $58,399 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $42,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an accounting assistant and an accounting analyst in terms of educational background:
| Accounting Assistant | Accounting Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between accounting assistants' and accounting analysts' demographics:
| Accounting Assistant | Accounting Analyst | |
| Average age | 51 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.3% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |